CELL-MEDIATED-IMMUNITY TO HOMOLOGOUS SPERMATOZOA FOLLOWING VASECTOMY IN HUMAN MALE

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (2) , 239-242
Abstract
Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to homologous spermatozoal antigens was studied in 62 males 1-10 yr after vasectomy. A group of 22 normal fertile non-vasectomized males was also studied. The inhibition in the leukocyte migration test (LMT), in the presence of spermatozoal antigen, was taken as an index of CMI. Of the 62 vasectomized males (32.2%), 20 showed a positive LMT reaction. When the results were analyzed with reference to the time elapsed since vasectomy, it was noted that 4 cases (22.2%) in each of the 0-2 yr and 3-5 yr groups showed a positive LMT reaction. Twelve cases gave a positive reaction in the 6-10 yr group (46.1%). It appears that the incidence of CMI to spermatozoa increases with the time elapsed since vasectomy.